HONG KONG, April 30 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's bourse operator on Wednesday posted a 37% jump in first quarter profit to record its best ever quarterly performance, helped by a sharp increase in securities trading and listing activities in the Asian financial hub.

The profit attributable to shareholders of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX) 0388.HK rose to HK$4.08 billion ($526 million) in the March quarter, up from HK$2.97 billion a year ago, its earnings statement showed.

The exchange's cash market headline average daily trading volume, a key source of revenue, reached a record quarterly high of HK$242.7 billion in the first quarter, more than double that of the year-ago period.

During the quarter, the exchange saw 17 company listings, raising a combined HK$18.7 billion, nearly four times that of the same period last year, HKEX said in its earnings statement.

The number of initial public offering $(IPO.UK)$ applications filed with the exchange increased to 120 as at March 31, 2025, up from 84 at end-December 2024, with 73 new applications submitted during the quarter, it added.

HKEX Chief Executive Bonnie Chan said the exchange would continue to leverage its China advantage, and expand connectivity with global markets to "remain resilient against macro volatility".

Hong Kong is the main destination for mainland Chinese firms looking to raise capital offshore, and bankers have said that mainland firms are accelerating plans to raise fresh funds offshore.

($1 = 7.7574 Hong Kong dollars)

(Reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Kate Mayberry)

((sumeet.chatterjee@thomsonreuters.com; +852 3462 7757;))